Rotatable washing device and attachments provided therefor

ABSTRACT

A rotatable washing device has a holder provided with connecting means; and an attachment provided with counter connecting means which are connectable to the connecting means of the holder to rotate together with the latter, the attachment being formed as an element which allows passage of liquid through the element or around the element, the holding element and the attachment being rotatable by the liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to rotatable washing devices, and attachments provided therefor.

[0002] Rotatable washing devices are known in the art. Some washing devices have a holder attachable to a water source or a liquid dispenser, and a plurality of attachments connectable to the holder. It is believed that the rotatable washing devices can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotatable washing device and attachments therefor which are further improvements of the existing devices.

[0004] In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated, in a rotatable washing device which has a holding element provided with a liquid passage and connecting means; and an attachment provided with counter connecting means which are connectable to said connecting means of said holder.

[0005] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a side view showing a washing device in accordance with the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a view substantially corresponding to the view of FIG. 1 but showing a washing device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0008]FIGS. 3 and 4 are a side views and an end view of an attachment of the inventive washing device;

[0009]FIG. 5 is a view showing a connection of the attachment to the holder of the inventive washing device;

[0010]FIGS. 6 and 7 are side views and an end view of a holder of another embodiment of the inventive washing device;

[0011]FIG. 8 is a view showing a central portion of the holder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; and

[0012]FIGS. 9-14 are views showing attachments in accordance with five embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] A washing device in accordance with the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-5 has a holder which is identified as a whole with reference numeral 1. The holder has a body 2 and peripheral connecting means 3 as will be explained herein below. The body 2 of the holder 1 is ring-shaped and has a central throughgoing opening 4.

[0014] The holder 1 is connectable with a rotary drive and a water source. The rotary drive and the water source can be formed as a single unit provided with a rotor rotatable by passing water, as disclosed for example in our U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,619,766 and 6,021,539. When the holder 1 is mounted on an end partition 1′ of the unit and water is supplied from a water supply to the unit water rotates the unit and thereby also the holder 1, and also flows through the unit and thereby through the holder 1.

[0015] The washing device further has an attachment which is identified as a whole with reference numeral 5. The attachment has a supporting element which is identified with reference numeral 6 and is provided with connecting peripheral means 7. The supporting element 6 also has a throughgoing opening 8. The attachment further has a working element which is identified with reference numeral 9. All attachments are mounted on the holder so that they rotate together with the holder and water passes through the attachments.

[0016] In accordance with the present invention the working element 9 is formed as a solid element extending completely across the openings 8 and 4 of the device. The working element 9 is formed as a porous element. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the porous working element 9 is formed as a foam-like sponge element. It has a plurality of pores of small diameter such as through whole liquid, water or washing solution can pass. The working element can also have at least one larger opening(s) or hole(s) 8′ to release more water.

[0017] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the washing device can be connected to a port R, that can be stationary, or can be rotatable and powdered by water passing through it or by electricity.

[0018] The washing device shown in FIG. 2 differs from the washing device shown in FIG. 1 by its attachment 11. The attachment 11 here also has a supporting element 12 provided with a throughgoing opening 13. A porous working element 14 is attached to the circular projection of the supporting element 12. Here the porous working element is not foam-shaped, but instead is sponge-shaped. It can be composed, as natural sponges, of a plurality of fibers, etc.

[0019] The connection of the attachment element 5, 11 to the holder 1 can be performed in many different ways. As shown in FIG. 5, the rear end of the attachment 5, 11, or more particularly of its supporting elements 8, 12, can be provided with a plurality of shaped slots 15., while the front end of the holder 11 can be provided with a plurality of projections shaped 16 which engage in the slots 15. In order to connect the attachment 5, 11 to the holder 1, the projection 16 are first introduced into cutouts 17, and then the elements are turned relative to one another so that the projections 16 are inserted in the slots 15 in the areas not provided with the cutouts.

[0020] In the embodiments shown in FIG. 3, the attachment 21 is substantially similar to the attachment of FIG. 1 has a working element 22 which is porous and also is provided with central opening 23.

[0021] For the operation, the holder 1 is attached to a source of water, for example a stationary pipe or a rotatable water head, etc, Water flows through the openings 4 and 8, 13, 23, into the working element. The working element, due to its pores, has a rough surface and provides rubbing against a cleaning surface or user's body. It also provides, due to its pores, an outlet and/or a uniform distribution of water passing through the pores it also provides a uniform distribution of a soap, if such is supplied together or separately with water through the pores. Thus, the washing action is substantially enhanced. When the attachment shown in FIG. 3 is utilized, a flow of water additionally flows through the central opening 23.

[0022] A washing device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention the present invention has a holder which is identified as a whole with reference numeral 101. The holder 101 has a body 102 provided with a central connecting projection 103 and also having a front wall which is provided with a plurality of throughgoing openings 104. As shown in FIG. 6, the central connecting projection 103 is solid so that water exclusively passes through the throughgoing openings 104 when the holder is attached to a source of water, such as a pipe, a rotatable head, etc.

[0023] In accordance with another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the connecting projection 103 can have a central passage 105. Also, the connecting projection has a connecting means 106.

[0024] The holder 101 is connectable with a rotary drive and a water source. The rotary drive and the water source can be formed as a single unit provided with a rotor rotatable by passing water, as disclosed for example in our U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,619,766 and 6,021,539. When the holder 1 is mounted on an end partition 1′ of the unit and water is supplied from a water supply to the unit water rotates the unit and thereby also the holder 1, and also flows through the unit and thereby through the holder 1.

[0025] The washing device further is provided with a plurality of attachments shown in FIGS. 9-12, 14. All attachments are mounted on the holder so that they rotate together with the holder and water passes through the attachments. An attachment shown in FIG. 9 is identified as a whole with reference numeral 110. It has a holding element 111 provided with a central rear projection 112 which has an inner opening 113. The holding element 111 can be fitted on the projection 103 of the holder 101 and connected therewith, for example by an interengagement of formations 106 and 114, which can be formed as a bajonet lock, a thread, etc. The attachment 110 is further provided with a working element which is identified with reference numeral 115. The working element 115 can be composed of a sponge-like material. During the operation of the device, water passes through the passages 104 and flows around the attachment 110, and at the same time the attachment 110 is moved relative to a user's body surface or a cleaning surface, for with example rotation caused by a rotatable head on which the holder 111 is attached and through which water passes to further pass through the throughgoing opening 104.

[0026]FIG. 10 shows another attachment which is identified with reference numeral 120. The attachment has a holding element 121 provided with a central rear projection 122 which has a throughgoing opening 123 communicating with a wider opening 124. The attachment further has a supporting element 125 which is fixed in the holding element 121 and is provided with a plurality of projections rod-shape 126, and a plurality of openings 127. The supporting element 125 is yieldable in an axial direction. For the operation the attachment 120 is attached to the holder 101 by interengagement of the similar formations provided on the projection 103 and in the opening 124, as in FIG. 9. During rotation of the holder 101 and supply of water the attachment 120 also rotates, and the projections 126 then provide a massaging action simultaneously with washing action. The water passes through the throughgoing opening 123 in the holding element 121, and throughgoign opening 127 in the supporting element 125, between the projections 126, Also in some projections 126′ through passages can be provided, that water also passes through the projections 126′.

[0027] The attachment 131 shown in FIG. 11 is substantially similar to the attachment shown in FIG. 10. However, instead of substantially rigid rod-shaped working elements 126, the supporting element 125 is provided with a plurality of bundles 128 each composed of a plurality of bristles 129. During the operation, the bristles 129 of the attachment 131 provide a softer action on the body than the rod-shaped projections 126 and also can be used for different purposes, similarly to a brush.

[0028] The attachment 141 shown in FIG. 12 is substantially similar to the attachment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. However here the supporting element 125 supports working elements which are formed by a plurality of projections 132. Each of the projections include an elongated part 133 extending from the supporting element 125 and an expanded end portion 134, formed for example with a spherical shape. The working elements of the attachment provide rubber action, cleaning action, and massaging action, etc.

[0029] The attachment 151 shown in FIG. 13 has a substantially conical holding element 152 having a projection 153 and provided with a plurality of throughgoing openings 154. The holding element 152 and the projection 153 have an inner passage 155 and a hollow 156 correspondingly. The working elements are formed as bundles 157 composed of bristles 158; so as to form a round-brush-shape. Water passes through passageways formed by the passage 155, the hollow 156 and the openings 154 between the bristles.

[0030]FIG. 14 shows another attachment which includes a holding element 162 and a working element 165. As shown on FIG. 14a the working element 165 can be made porous, for example as a sponge, as a fiber pad, and can have at least one throughggoing opening 1661 n its middle, or a plurality of throughgoing openings. In the modifications shown in FIGS. 14b and 14 c the working element 165 is provided with substantially semispherical projections 167 or brushes 168 composed of bristles.

[0031] The protrusion 167 can be formed with balls; pins, rods, rough surfaces, etc., and can be attached or molded to the main part. In FIG. 14a the working element can be solid, hard material as a foot stone or pumice, or as a soft, foam, sponge material with pores, or rigid fiber pad with pores, or loofah pad, etc.

[0032] Also the attachments can be rotatable by water and/or by electricity; or they can be connectable to a rotating, hydrostatic device or mechanism.

[0033] The elements 112, 122, 152, 162 can be made from soft, flexible plastic which allows attachment to better maintain contact with the cleaning surface.

[0034] All attachments are connected with the holder so that they rotate together with the holder, and water which passes through the holder also passes through the attachments or flows around the attachments.

[0035] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0036] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a rotatable washing device and attachments provided therefor, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0037] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A rotatable washing device, comprising a holder provided with connecting means; and an attachment provided with counter connecting means which are connectable to said connecting means of said holder to rotate together with the latter, said attachment being formed as an element which allows passage of liquid through said element or around said element, said holding element and said attachment being rotatable by the liquid.
 2. A rotatable washing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means of said holder and said counter connecting means of said attachment are peripheral means selected from the group consisting of peripheral connecting means and central connecting means.
 3. A rotatable washing device as defined in claim 2, wherein said connecting means are formed so as to provide a water flow selected from the group consisting of a flow inside said peripheral connecting means and a flow around said central connecting means.
 4. A rotatable washing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said element is an element selected from the group consisting of a porous element, a foam-type sponge element and a fiber-type sponge element.
 5. A rotatable washing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said element is provided with at least one throughgoing opening.
 6. A rotatable washing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said porous element is provided with at least one throughgoing opening.
 7. A rotatable washing device as defined in claim 6, wherein said porous element has pores with such a size and a quantity that it provides a rubbing action.
 8. A rotatable washing device as defined in claim 7, wherein said pores have such a size and a quantity that it distributes a substance selected from the group consisting of water, soap, medication and cleaning solution in said porous element to provide an efficient washing action.
 9. A rotatable washing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means include a projection means arranged on one of said holder and said attachment and groove means provided on the other of said holder and said attachment.
 10. A rotatable device as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting formation is solid, while said holder has a front wall provided with said plurality of openings.
 11. A rotatable device as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting formation and said connecting counter formation are hollow so as to form throughgoing passages said element being liquid permeable.
 12. A rotatable device as defined in claim 2, wherein said element is provided with a plurality of bundles of bristles extending in a direction selected from the group consisting of an axial direction and a radial direction.
 13. A rotatable device as defined in claim 2, wherein said element is provided with a plurality of rod-shaped projections.
 14. A rotatable device as defined in claim 2, wherein said element has a holding portion, and a plurality of working formations extending from said holding portion.
 15. A rotatable device as defined in claim 14, wherein said holding portion is yieldable in an axial direction.
 16. A rotatable device as defined in claim 14, wherein said holding portion is provided with a plurality of throughgoing holes.
 17. A rotatable device as defined in claim 1, wherein said holder is attachable to a water source to be water powered.
 18. A rotatable device as defined in claim 2, wherein said holder is attachable to a water powered.
 19. A rotatable device as defined in claim 1, wherein said holder is composed of a soft, flexible plastic material which allows said holder to bend so as to better maintain a contact of said attachment with a surface to be cleaned,.
 20. A rotatable device as defined in claim 1 wherein said working element is composed of a rigid fiber pad with pores.
 21. A rotatable device as defined in claim 1, wherein said element is composed of a loofah pad. 